Ever watch ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ on TV? Budding young entrepreneurs make their business pitches to the “sharks—tough, self-made, multi-millionaire and billionaire tycoons” looking for the best new products in America.
Alaska’s own version, all be it less “shark” and more support and education, is the decade-old Alaska Business Plan Competition, held each spring. The same group hosts a boot camp for entrepreneurs and free talks from visiting experts throughout the year. Business plan judges include local bankers, entrepreneurs, business educators and angel investors.
Winners this year were young people with plans for an environmentally sound, sealed fueling system, an aeroponics organic growing system, and a high-speed personal watercraft.
Past winners have included drone developers, plans for an indoor shooting range and a peonies flower nursery.
Wednesday, we’ll hear from two judges in this year’s competition, and two winning entrepreneurs on their plans and where and how they developed their ideas.
We’ll also introduce the AEDC’s upcoming Entrepreneurship Week and mini-Maker Faire planned for late July.
If you think you’ve got a killer business idea, this show’s for you. If you’re a tinkerer and a problem solver, find out how to turn those innate talents into income.
GUESTS:
In the studio
- Mike Martin, business plan judge, Northrim Bank
- Jon Bittner, business plan judge, Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)
- Harry Leffler, 1st place winner, Aknuna Technologies
- Brian McKinnon, 1st place winner, Aknuna Technologies
- Jason Smith, 2nd place winner, Alaska Natural Organics
LINKS:
- Alaska Business Plan Competition, About
- 2013 rules, Alaska Business Plan Competition
- 2013 and past winners
- Videotaped entrepreneurial training sessions
- AEDC—Entrepreneur initiatives
- Entrepreneurial Edge Facebook Page
- 10 most entrepreneurial states (Alaska is ranked #4) CNN.money
- U.S. of Innovation: Ranking the states for innovation (Alaska comes in at #5) Fast Company, 4/15/13
- What’s hot in Alaska, Fast Company, 4/15/13
DATES:
- Alaska Entrepreneurship Week, July 27-Aug. 4
- Mini-Maker Faire, July 27, noon-6 p.m., Loussac Library
- AEDC ‘Business Pitch on a Train,’ Aug. 1
- Hackathons, July 25, Aug. 3-4
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air)
HOST: Kathleen McCoy
LIVE BROADCAST: Wednesday, June 26, 2013. 2:00 – 3:00 pm (Alaska time)
REPEAT BROADCAST: Wednesday, June 26, 2013. 7:00 – 8:00 pm (Alaska time)
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